Nodal Planes

[Shannon Asay 1C]

What are nodal planes exactly and why do the s- orbitals not have them?

[Shutong Hou_1F]

Nodal plane means that the wave function = 0, meaning that the probability of finding electrons in that plane is zero. I am not sure about why s-orbitals don't have nodal plane, but I think that it is because there is no node when depicting the math model of the s-orbital.

[Lauren Bui 1E]

In the s-orbital, electorns have no angular momentum (l = 0), so they're distributed around the nucleus instead of circulating it. In p-,d-, and f- orbitals, electrons have angular momentum (l>0), and the spherical movement creates nodal planes.

[IScarvie 1E]

Nodal planes are planes in the p, d, and f orbitals with zero electron density probability. In other words, there is no likelihood of finding an electron in that spot.

[philipraj_1F]

Because of the shape of s orbitals, it is impossible for them to have nodal planes. This is unlike p, d, and f orbitals.

[KTran 1I]

S-orbitals have electrons that are distributed spherically symmetrical around the nucleus so while they do not have any nodal planes, the s-orbital does have radial nodes. The 1s orbital would not have any nodes, but the 2s orbital would have one node, the 3s orbital would have two nodes, etc.

[Joelle 3L]

In an orbitals, nodes are non-spherical regions where the electron cannot exist. This can be a nodal plane or nodal cone. The s- orbitals do not have a nodal plane because the entire orbital is the same phase.